Celia O'Connor, Florida Realtor

04/07/2026

While many cite 20% as the standard downpayment, the typical first-time buyer last year purchased with just 10% down. Buyers are taking advantage of numerous downpayment assistance programs to pave their path to homeownership.

02/09/2026

Think you’re ready to buy a home? Make sure your finances are too. Visit My Home to see how close you are to making your dream a reality. https://bit.ly/4t6zFC9

01/23/2026

Baby boomers and older Americans have spent decades amassing one of the largest concentrations of private wealth in history. Now, that wealth is starting to be passed down to the next generation—and it’s having a ripple effect across the high-end property market.

Over the next decade, roughly 1.2 million individuals with net worths of $5 million or more are projected to pass down more than $38 trillion globally, according to a new report from brokerage Coldwell Banker Global Luxury reviewed exclusively by The Wall Street Journal.

Real estate is poised to play a significant role in the great wealth transfer. Gen Xers and Millennials are set to inherit $4.6 trillion in global real estate over the next 10 years, according to the report, which incorporated data from research firms Altrata and Cerulli Associates. Nearly $2.4 trillion of that property is located in the U.S.

It isn’t a new phenomenon for well-off parents to give children a helping hand in securing a first home. But at the high end of the market, agents say more parents aren’t waiting for kids to inherit their wealth; they are buying them luxury properties sooner. It’s reshaping the definition of luxury real estate, as more sellers cater to the tastes and preferences of a younger generation of buyers.

What will be the ripple effects of the great transfer of real estate wealth? 🔗 https://on.wsj.com/4qUSwxY

01/23/2026

This is a very simplified example on purpose.

Real rent versus buy decisions include a long list of variables that are hard to model precisely. Home maintenance and improvement costs. Property taxes and insurance changes. Rent increases over time. Capital gains taxes or tax-free growth inside retirement accounts. Even small differences in assumptions can swing the outcome meaningfully over 20 or 30 years.

That complexity is exactly why this comparison is so often confusing.

But before you layer in every real-world detail, it helps to understand the basic mechanics. Buying means using a loan to gradually build ownership in a slower-growing asset while securing housing at the same time. Renting means paying for housing separately and relying on disciplined investing in higher-return markets to build wealth.

Once you understand that tradeoff, the advanced math becomes easier to reason about.

01/13/2026

Mortgage rates dipped to 5.99% today. 😳

And while they didn’t stay there long (volatility is real, and according to MND, they were up just a hair over 6% moments later), this is the mindset shift a lot of buyers are waiting for.

For the people in your database who said, “I’m waiting for rates to come down,” now’s the time to reach out and have that conversation.

And keep in mind, they will likely still bounce around in low-6% territory, maybe touching the high 5s again soon, but this is still one of the lowest ranges we’ve seen in years — and a golden window to re-engage buyers who’ve been on the fence.

01/13/2026

Palm Beach County is booming in luxury real estate, with trophy homes selling for more than $200 million as wealthy buyers continue to flock to the area. But many local families struggle to afford the county’s $499,000 median single-family home price, up $132,025 from five years ago.

To help bridge that gap, the county is launching a homebuyer assistance program offering up to $50,000 in down payment help, which can be used toward the purchase price, closing costs, or a rate buydown. Officials hope the program will make homeownership more attainable for the local workforce.

01/12/2026

Billionaire Google co-founder Larry Page reportedly spent over $173 million on two mansions in Miami’s exclusive Coconut Grove, just days after reports surfaced that he’s moving business interests out of California ahead of a potential wealth tax. He bought a 13-bedroom, 15.5-bath home for $101.5 million on Dec. 29, and a nearby property for $71.9 million, nearly double its price five years ago.

01/12/2026

Home prices softened across much of the country in 2025, with year-over-year declines in 26 of the 50 largest metros. National prices edged down, led by markets like Austin, where rising inventory pushed prices lower.

Now, the market is beginning to rebalance. More homes are coming available, price growth has cooled, and sellers are adjusting expectations. Buyers who’ve been waiting are seeing more options and greater flexibility, especially as more people get comfortable with mortgage rates in the 6% range.

08/24/2025

08/19/2025

President Donald Trump's administration is gearing up to sell stock in government-backed mortgage giants Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae within months, according to a report on Friday.

The initial public offering could net the Trump administration roughly $30 billion, reported the Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter.

The plan could see both companies valued at $500 billion or more combined and entail selling between 5% and 15% of their stock.

Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, whose mission is to buy mortgages from lenders and bundle them into securities for investors to boost the availability of funds for home loans, have been under government conservatorship for more than 15 years, ever since they had to be bailed out with taxpayer dollars to avoid collapse during the financial crisis of 2008.

As part of this arrangement, both companies have been subjected to strict oversight and regulation by the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Learn more about what this could mean for the housing market → https://rltor.cm/cr73f3

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08/03/2025

FHA loans aren’t just for first-time buyers or those with bad credit. Learn the facts, avoid common misconceptions and navigate FHA loan requirements with confidence: https://www.nar.realtor/magazine/real-estate-news/sales-marketing/navigating-fha-loan-requirements-crafting-home-purchase-agreements-with-ease